The American political class on Sunday sharply condemned a call by former President Donald Trump the day before to abandon the American Constitution in order to reverse the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, which Joe Biden won.
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Donald Trump repeated his baseless allegations of massive voter fraud, claiming on his network Truth Social on Saturday that “fraud of this nature and magnitude allows for the repeal of all rules, regulations and articles, including those of the Constitution.”
Donald Trump says he wants to repeal the constitution.
Every Republican in Congress has to say whether they stand with Trump or stand by his oath to the Constitution.
If they say they haven’t seen the post, show them and ask them again.
You can’t escape that. pic.twitter.com/ywUwCxtSSz
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) December 4, 2022
Words immediately condemned by the White House.
“The United States Constitution is a sacrosanct document that for 200 years has guaranteed that liberty and the rule of law shall prevail in our beautiful country,” Executive Branch Spokesman Andrew Bates said in a statement on Saturday.
“The attack on the constitution and all it stands for is anathema to the soul of our country and must be condemned,” he added. “You can’t just love America when you’re winning.”
On Sunday, elected officials from both parties expressed insult at the words of the former president, who also recently announced that he wants to run in the 2024 presidential election.
“Last week he had dinner with anti-Semites. Now he’s calling for an end to constitutional democracy in America,” Senate Democrat leader Chuck Schumer tweeted about a dinner at Donald Trump’s Florida residence attended by white supremacist Nick Fuentes and notorious Holocaust denier.
For Donald Trump, last week was a dinner with anti-Semites. Now he is calling for an end to American constitutional democracy. He’s out of control and a threat to our democracy. Everyone must condemn this attack on our democracy.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) December 4, 2022
Donald Trump “is out of control and a threat to our democracy. Everyone must condemn this attack on our democracy,” Schumer added.
When asked about Mr Trump’s statements on Fox News, former Vice President Mike Pence, who has nevertheless distanced himself from the American billionaire since the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, waived a conviction.
“Candidates who focused on the past, particularly those who focused on challenging the last election, did not do well in last month’s midterm elections,” he said, simply calling back.
“You are supporting a candidate who has spoken out in favor of suspending the constitution.”
“You know, he says a lot of things, you have to put him in context.”
“But that is an extraordinary statement. You can’t take action against someone who is in favor of suspending the Constitution?” pic.twitter.com/v4e0VREBOX—Acyn (@Acyn) December 4, 2022
Mr Trump’s former national security adviser, the very conservative John Bolton, meanwhile, was offended by his former boss’ proposal. “All true conservatives must oppose his campaign for the 2024 presidential election,” he tweeted.